Welcome!

Dear Book Lovers, Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below). I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there. The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Eight

I love people watching. When I was a child, I used to go to town with my father and we would sit in a cafe and make up stories about the people who walked by. We would wonder where were they going, and what were they doing in town. Now I play this same 'game' with my daughter. We find that airports and cafes are great places to people watch. Today's picture book is about a little girl who is watching the world go by from her balcony.
Yona Tepper
Illustrated by Gil-Ly Alon Curiel
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Kane Miller, 2010, 978-1-935279-36-5
Yael is a little girl who likes to stand on the balcony of her home. From the balcony on the second floor, she can look into the street and watch the world go by. Here comes a little dog who is wagging his tail. Busily he jumps, turns around, and barks. Then the little dog trots down the street, and Yael wonders where the little dog has gone.
   Later on, Yael sees something else coming down the street. She “peeks between the railings” and she hears someone whistling and ringing a bell. Who is it Yael wonders, and then she sees a man riding a bicycle. He is wearing boots, and he has a basket and a fishing pole on the back of his bicycle. Yael wonders where the man is going and what he will do when he gets there.
   This charming picture book shows young children how interesting it is to observe the world around them. The narrative encourages them to try to guess what the animals and people that they see in the story are up to. Where are they going and what will they do next?
  With wonderful, brightly colored illustrations throughout, this is a picture book that young children are sure to enjoy.  

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Seven

Today's picture book is the kind of book that adults as well as children will appreciate. It conveys a message that is relevant to readers who are 7 or 17 or 27 or... I think you get the idea. It is the kind of book that gives you something new to think about every time you read it.
Alison McGhee
Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Picture Book
For ages 6 and up
Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4169-5857-4
As you go about your days, you will discover that there are so many doors that lead to somewhere, and there is so much “to wonder about.” You don’t know who you will be, nor do you know “where you will go.” Life is so full of unknowns.
   Notice all the wonderful things around you and enjoy them, take pleasure in the journey and know that, “You are stronger than you know.” Even when you are buffeted by a wind and tossed about by a storm, you will find a way to keep going because “You are braver than you know.”
   In this remarkable book, Alison McGhee’s lyrical text is perfectly matched to Taeeun Yoo’s multimedia art to help young people to see that everything they need to make their way in the world is within them. In their hearts, they will find courage, strength, hope, and love, all the tools that they will need during their journey to somewhere.
   This book would make a wonderful gift for anyone who is embarking on a journey of some kind.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Seven

Today's picture book is the kind of book that adults as well as children will appreciate. It conveys a message that is relevant to readers who are 7 or 17 or 27 or... I think you get the idea. It is the kind of book that gives you something new to think about every time you read it.


Alison McGhee
Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Picture Book
For ages 6 and up
Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4169-5857-4
As you go about your days, you will discover that there are so many doors that lead to somewhere, and there is so much “to wonder about.” You don’t know who you will be, nor do you know “where you will go.” Life is so full of unknowns.
   Notice all the wonderful things around you and enjoy them, take pleasure in the journey and know that, “You are stronger than you know.” Even when you are buffeted by a wind and tossed about by a storm, you will find a way to keep going because “You are braver than you know.”
   In this remarkable book, Alison McGhee’s lyrical text is perfectly matched to Taeeun Yoo’s multimedia art to help young people to see that everything they need to make their way in the world is within them. In their hearts, they will find courage, strength, hope, and love, all the tools that they will need during their journey to somewhere.
   This book would make a wonderful gift for anyone who is embarking on a journey of some kind.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Six

Life can be hard when something about us looks different, when we don't look like everyone else in some way. We went to fit in, and we feel that our differentness is a liability or a trial that we have to bear. This picture book take a look at how one little cat discovers, with a little help from her friends, that being different isn't that bad after all.

Elizabeth Schoonmaker
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2011, 978-1-4424-0619-3
Square Cat   Eula is a square cat, and more than anything she wishes that she was round like her friends Patsy and Maude. Eula’s squareness makes it impossible for her to fit in mouse holes, and when she tips over, she has a terrible time getting back up. Eula’s square shape makes it hard to her to find clothes that fit right or that look nice, and Eula gets so unhappy that she loses her purr.
   Thankfully, Eula has two wonderful friends. Patsy and Maude are determined to cheer Eula up. At first they try to help Eula to feel as if she is round, but when that doesn’t work, they come up with another idea.
   In this charming debut picture book by author and illustrator Elizabeth Schoonmaker, we meet a cat who is different, and who does not like the fact that she is different. With a little help from her loyal friends, she discovers that there are times when being different is actually an asset.
   This heartwarming story will put a smile on reader’s faces, and it explores an important issue in a clever and thoughtful way.

Monday, February 14, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Five

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you have an enjoyable day full of hugs and smooches. Valentine's Day is, of course, all about showing the people you love that they are loved, and about making declarations of love. It is also a day when people give their loves gifts of flowers and rings. And chocolate. Chocolate truly does make life more pleasurable, and for today's picture book I have a title that is all about one little's boy's passion for chocolate. 

Davide Cali
Illustrated by Evelyn Daviddi
Picture Book
Ages 6 to 8
Tundra Books, 2009, 978-0-88776-912-2
   Chocolate is one of those things that makes the world a better place. It is one of those things that gives pleasure in so many ways. In this book, you are going to meet a little boy who has put a lot of thought into why he “loves chocolate.”
   He begins by pointing out the obvious: Chocolate tastes good! It comes in many forms, is flavored in countless ways, and it can even be surprising. Then the boy goes on to explain that chocolate can “make bad times better.” Chocolate is the perfect panacea when people get angry, when machines break down, and when life is dull, scary, frustrating, or annoying.
   Chocolate is also the perfect thing to have around when you are in a celebratory mood. You can share it with a friend, give it to someone as gift, or use it as a peace offering when you have done something wrong.
   In this delightfully funny book, the author and illustrator truly get into the spirit of chocolateness. They clearly appreciate the many ways in which chocolate makes the world a happier place. Chocoholics off all ages are sure to enjoy the wonderfully quirky illustrations, the amusing text, and the unique format of this memorable book.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Four

Valentine's Day is only a day away, so I have chosen a book that I think perfectly captures the confusion that comes with falling in love. Thankfully, in this tale at least, the characters figure out what is going on and there is a happy ending.


Ingrid and Dieter Schubert
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Boyds Mills Press, 2009, 978-1-59078-659-8
   It is a beautiful morning, and Ophelia the hippo has just woken up. She floats on her back in the water and looks at the pretty flowers in the tree over her head. Then Ophelia hears someone calling her name. She can tell that it is Kevin, and when he tells her that he has “butterflies in my stomach,” Ophelia gets very worried.
   Quickly Ophelia runs to the shore carrying a medical kit. She sees Merrkat standing on a rock, and she tells the little animal that Kevin has a stomachache. Meerkat decides to give Kevin a hot-water bottle, because hot-water bottles are very useful when you have a stomachache.
   Next, Ophelia and Meerkat meet Frog. Meerkat tells Frog that Kevin “has a terrible cramp. And his throat hurts.” Frog decides that what Kevin needs is some herbal tea. Soon Ophelia is trotting through the forest with Meerkat (carrying a hot-water bottle) and Frog (carrying a pot of tea) in her wake. What none of the animals know, is that Kevin does not have a stomach-ache at all. Instead, he is suffering from a very common and non-lethal complaint. Poor Kevin is in love.
   In this charming picture book, young readers get to meet a very warm-hearted group of animals who are prone to exaggerating, and who discover that love is a very contagious condition.
   The loveable characters and amusing story in this book are perfectly complimented by the charming illustrations. 

Saturday, February 12, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Three

Today's picture book presents readers with a situation that is awfully familiar. Trying to impress others and get noticed is a problem that children and young people all over the world have to deal with. I have seen a boy throw sand in a little girl's face in a park in Paris because she wouldn't give him the time of day, and I have seen young men doing wheelies on a street in India when they see that a trio of pretty girls is coming their way. Meet Anthony, a little boy with an age old problem.

Ole Konnecke
Translated by Nancy Seitz
Picture book
For ages 5 to 7
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006, 978-0374303761
   Anthony thinks he is “cool.” He has a bucket, and a shovel, and a really big toy car. Anthony takes these treasures up to where some little girls are playing in a sand box. He waves his bucket around, he sticks his shovel in the sand, and he pushes his car back in forth in front of  the girls, trying to attract their attention. The girls work on their sand castle, and they completely ignore Anthony.
   Anthony shows the girls that he can jump high, that he is strong, and that he can go down the slide on his stomach with his “Eyes closed.” Surely the girls will be impressed now. Surely they will notice Anthony when they see how talented he is. They don’t.
   In this unique picture book, the author uses very simple illustrations and a minimal text  to explore the ways in which children interact. Little boys and girl alike will laugh as they watch Anthony try and try again to get some attention, and they will appreciate that the story’s ending leaves readers will a question. What will happen next?

Friday, February 11, 2011

Poetry Friday - A review of A Child's Calendar by John Updike

For today's Poetry Friday title, I have a special book in which John Updike celebrates the seasons through poetry. His wonderful poems are paired with Trina Schart Hyman's beautiful artwork. This is a book that you will want to keep on your to-look-at-regularly shelf. If you don't have such a shelf yet, then get your shelf started with this book of poems.

John Updike
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 6 to 10
Holiday House, 1999, 978-0823414451
Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't take the time to enjoy the unique pleasures that each month brings. In this memorable book of poetry, John Updike looks at each of the months, exploring the sights, sounds, smells, and treats that one can expect at that time of year.
   In January "The radiator / Purrs all day" and "Fat Snowy footsteps / track the floor" when the children come indoors after playing outside in the snow.
   In March the weather is "fair" or "raw," and crocuses come up through the earth like "noses come / To sniff around."
  With John Updike’s beautiful image filled rhyming poetry and Trina Schart Hyman's lovely wtarecolor paintings, readers can explore a calendar year with a young family, their pets and their friends. The antics of the littlest member of the family are sure to bring a smile to reader's faces, and older readers may find themselves remembering their own childhoods as they share the joys of the seasons with these new friends.
This title received a Caldecott Honor in 2008

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Two : Children and pets

A year or so ago I, like so many parents, was subjected to hearing "can I have a pet PLEASE. I promise to take care of it." Three guinea pigs later, my daughter has come to realize that pets are a lot of work. Today's picture book is about a little bear child who wants a pet of her own. Both children and parents will enjoy this one.

Children Make Terrible PetsPeter Brown
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Little Brown, 2010, 978-0-316-01548-6
   One day Lucy Beatrice Bear is out in the woods practicing her twirls when she comes across “the cutest critter in the whole forest.” She is thrilled with the little fellow and decides to call him Squeaker, “because he makes funny sounds.” Lucy begs her mother to allow her to keep the child (yes that is what he is) for a pet, even though she is told that “children make terrible pets.” Reluctantly, Lucy’s mother agrees, with the stipulation that Squeaker will be Lucy’s responsibility.
   Lucy and Squeaker have a wonderful time together, though Lucy discovers that having a pet can be a lot of work, and at times Squeaker is a real trial. For one thing, her pet refuses to be potty-trained, and for another, he loves to ruin the furniture. Then the worse thing possible happens. Squeaker disappears. Lucy is distraught. Where can her beloved pet be?
   Children are sure to enjoy this hilarious picture book with its loveable main character. Readers of all ages will love the way Peter Brown presents a familiar scenario in such a unique way. This book was written for all those children who have brought home an animal, and who have asked “can I keep him?” It was also written for all those long-suffering parents who have had to deal with all those wild animal pets who bring chaos and pandemonium in their lives. 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-One

If you are different in some way, life can be a bit of a trial. While people laugh at you, or make fun or you, or avoid you, you have to do your best to hold your head high. All you can do is hope that there are people out there who will like you for who you are, and who will happily accept and perhaps even embrace, your differentness.

In today's picture book you will meet two young people who both have something about them that is different. The message the story conveys is universal, and it is also a love story, so it would make a splendid Valentine's Day gift.

Nancy Gow
Ten Big Toes and a Prince's NoseIllustrated by Stephen Constanza
Picture book
For ages 6 to 8
Sterling, 2010, 978-1-4027-6396-0
   Once upon a time there was a princess who was lovely, she had a voice “like honey,” and “her smile was soft and sweet.” Unfortunately, this delightful young lady had enormous feet, and when young princes came to court her, the sight of her feet scared them off. Because her feet “were the first thing they’d see,” the princes did not even wait to find out how “charming” the princess was. They would dismiss her without even making the effort to find out what a wonderful person she was.
   Not far away, a prince lived in a castle and this “charming” and “kind” fellow was perfect in every way except that he had “a nose like a barn.” Princesses who met him would not even give him a chance, because all they noticed were his “gigantic” nose.
   Luckily, the princess with the big feet and the prince with the big nose had wise parents who counseled them to always be themselves and to accept that “I am what I am and that’s all right with me.”
   In this delightful picture book, we meet two young people whose confidence in who they are is tested because the are different. Despite being rejected by others, the prince and the princess stay true to who they are, and in the end they find the love happiness they are looking for.
   With beautiful full-page illustrations throughout, a clever rhyming text that is touched with humor, and a meaningful message about self love and confidence, this is a picture book that should be on every classroom and library shelf. 
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